BRIGHT spring sunshine greeted a procession the length of Fore Street when Bodmin celebrated St Piran's Day in style.

Townspeople joined others across the county and in various parts of the world to honour the Cornish identity on the feast day of Cornwall's patron saint.

Hundreds of schoolchildren, each waving a black and white Cornish flag, swelled the parade and thoroughly enjoyed countless renditions of "Oggy Oggy Oggy'' as they made their way to Mount Folly.

The colourful and noisy procession of some 400 people was led by a piper and drummer, followed by the flags of Cornwall and Ireland, two of them hoisted aloft by North Cornwall MP Dan Rogerson and former county councillor Alastair Quinnell.

It was Mr Quinnell and Beryl Tapp who devised the idea of a Bodmin St Piran's parade a decade ago.

Since then, it has become bigger each year and is now one of the largest such celebrations in the county.

Later, children danced on Mount Folly after a rendition of Trelawny.

Bodmin mayor Bob Micek thanked everyone for taking part, especially the children.

He said: "This is a very special day because it gives us the opportunity to welcome back Cornwall's saint to the former county town."

Maureen Fuller, from Saltash, deputy grand bard of the Cornish Gorsedd, speaking in Cornish and English, told the crowd that Cornwall and the Cornish language were in the ascendency and the language should be taught in schools.

She said: "I know teachers are tied up with a great many things already, but I do hope there will be the opportunity for many of our children to learn the language in school."

The children enjoyed their morning off school, and Bodmin Town Council gave its staff an unofficial public holiday.